January 29, 2001

For release at your earliest convenience

For further information, please contact Stephen Mountain at 543-4555

The Mendham Township Committee announced at their meeting January 23^rd that long time residents Stirling and Elizabeth Tomkins have presented the Township open space program with a generous monetary gift of $125,000. Pursuant to the Tomkin’s wishes, the funds will be used by the Township to start an endowment for the maintenance and upkeep of Township open space.

To recognize the Tomkins for their generosity, the Township Committee will name the new fund, the Tomkin’s Endowment for Open Space Management. The endowment will fund activities such as sustainable forestry, trail maintenance and future park improvements.

In acknowledging the Tomkin’s donation, Mayor Brian Phelan expressed the Township’s great appreciation for the gift, adding that the donation reflects the level of commitment Township residents have towards their community. "I think that it is great that residents like the Tomkins care the way they do about the community and are willing to give so selflessly in support of causes such as open space maintenance" said Phelan. We will make good use of the donation and hope that through the establishment of the Tomkin’s Endowment, others will follow the Tomkin’s lead and contribute to this wonderful cause."

Residents interested in joining the Tomkins in support of Township open space maintenance can make their contribution care of, The Tomkin’s Endowment for Open Space Management, Township of Mendham, Post Office Box 520, Brookside, NJ 07926. All donations will be tax deductible. For more information about the Tomkin’s Endowment, call Township Administrator, Stephen Mountain at (973) 543-4555.